BCS Championship Preview: #1 Notre Dame vs #2 Alabama

By arich

Created Jan 6 2013 - 11:01pm

Sunday, January 6, 2013 - 11:01pm

A day before they face-off on the gridiron, Nick Saban and Brian Kelly shared the stage and spoke with the media earlier Sunday.

Kelly and Saban shook hands in front of the Coaches Trophy before speaking about the title game ahead of them. Saban and #2 Alabama are looking for their third championship in four years, while Kelly and his Fighting Irish are trying to capitalize on the school's first number one ranking, and return the storied program to football prominence.

"Fighting Irish, that's who we are. That's how we want our guys to play. We're gonna battle you. First time our back has a chance, he better lower his shoulder and run through a tackle. Better finish off tackles. Play tough and physical. We want that kind of demeanor," said Kelly.

"They're a very good offensive team with a lot of diversity, a lot of formations, a lot of variable that you have to adjust to," said Saban. "So, you don't have to go all the way back to see that there is a very difficult preparation in front of us, relative to what they do."